In tomorrow’s issue of The Verge, I have a column ranking the top three Christmas television episodes of all-time.

My original plan was to list the top five Christmas movies, television episodes and specials, but as you can guess, that was way too long and difficult.

I am a sap for anything Christmas.

I love the music, I love the decorations and I am one of the few people who think Christmas season does not last long enough.

Each year television networks and movie studies add new specials and movies to the already crowded list of Christmas presentations. Each year, some of the best get forgotten. It is sad, but it is the way of life.

So, in honor of those we have forgotten, I am going to recommend some of my favorite Christmas specials and movies that time has forgotten.

The Christmas Toy

The made-for-TV movie debuted in 1986 and was produced by Jim Henson Entertainment. It was presented by Kraft.

Although I was born in 1988, my mom taped the special, so it has the added bonus of the throwback Kraft ads after every commercial.

When the children leave the room, the toys come to life. Ruby has been the favorite toy forever, but this is disrupted because of a new toy at Christmas. Ruby must learn to live without being the favorite, while getting the robot toy who thinks it is on an alien planet back in its box.

This special was so good Pixar ripped it off a decade later with a film you may have heard of called “Toy Story.”

Although time may have forgotten “Christmas Toy,” the magic of YouTube has not.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

This Christmas special was released in 1974 and can still occasionally be seen on ABC Family during the 25 Days of Christmas in-between a Pac-Man Christmas and the horrible Frosty special where he gets married.

This special flips the script on the traditional holiday poem focusing on the mice instead of the people.

Santa decides to boycott a town because a mouse writes a letter to the editor in a local paper claiming he isn’t real. So in order to win good fortunes with Saint Nick, the town brings a clock to celebrate Santa.

Hilarity, Christmas spirit and plenty of kick-ass music ensue.

Peace on Earth

I had forgotten about this short cartoon until I was researching for The Verge column, but although it was created in 1939 it is still poignant to this day.

It remains the only cartoon ever nominated for a Noble Peace Prize.

The story’s absolutely depressing; it involves animals that have now populated the Earth after the humans eliminated themselves because of ongoing world wars.

Although it is depressing it has a great message and is fun to watch.

Cartoon Network used to play this each Christmas Eve on a show called Toonheads.

Now we are subject to reruns of “Family Guy.”

Like Christmas Toy, this cartoon is now available on YouTube.

So to everyone out there, be safe and have a Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Dan Cusack is a senior journalism major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at

[email protected].